Author Topic: Actions Calibers and thoughts on building my first custom (Read 1325 times)

mtnman1 · « **on:** December 10, 2003, 09:34:53 AM »

I stumbled across a deal on an unchambered 6mm Stainless Kimber barrel that was too good to pass up. It's threaded already for a Kimber M84 action and I was wondering if there were any other actions that it would work with? If not, I have a friend (smith) who'll cut and rethread it, but I was hoping to maintain the full 24" length if possible.

Also any thoughts on actions? I'm thinking of chambering it to 6MM-06 as everything I've been able to read about the cartridge suggests that it's a real hotrod and virtually identical to the performance of a 240 Weatherby but on the more available 06 cartridge.

As you can tell I'm probably backing into a custom from the barrel first which probably isn't the smartest way to start out, but I've always wanted a hotrod 6mm and just couldn't pass up the deal I got on the Kimber barrel. I do have access to a good smith who will do a lot of work for me for the price of the parts. As a result a lot of what I want to do isn't dictated by the cost of the smith work. (He won't get too extreme, but is very good at the things he'll take on)... I'm not looking to spend a ton of money but rather build a reliable gun that's an excellent shooter.

Joel W. · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2003, 04:22:12 AM »

If a hotrod 6mm is what you want, the 6mm/06 should be a dandy. I don't have any experience with it, but from what I have read, it is pretty much the fraternal twin of the 240 Weatherby. I don't know how close the 6mm Ackley will come to the performance of the 6mm/06, but that may be another option. I imagine also, that the thread pattern for the Kimber will cross reference to another action. If a custom rifle is what you want, and you were able to pick up a barrel first, then great. I would have to put mine together one piece at a time also.

mtnman1 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 12, 2003, 09:49:54 AM »

Joel,

Thanks. Yeah, I'm really interested in the 6-06... Wicked fast and tons of brass available. Worst case scenario on the barrel is I've got an encore, and can have it stubbed into an existing encore barrel. I'm going to turn this barrel over to a smith friend of mine and have him check it out and see what the options are first. If I can't go any other route, I'll have him stub it into an old encore barrel...

The Shrink · « **Reply #3 on:** December 15, 2003, 02:58:21 PM »

Esteemed board

Come on, guys! There's got to be a reference of thread patterns on various bolt actions out there somewhere! Do you have the measure of the thread on the barrel?

PaulS · « **Reply #4 on:** December 15, 2003, 03:05:57 PM »

I have a book called "The Bolt Action" and covers some of the actions listing their thread size and pitch as well as the number of turns in But I have never seen a compilation of this info specifically.

PaulS

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** December 15, 2003, 06:44:33 PM »

I'd look to either Brownell's or Gun Parts Corp. for that info.

GB

mtnman1 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 16, 2003, 07:54:24 AM »

Here's the specs on the barrel.

It's for a Model 84 receiver and threaded .810" (13/16) by 20 threads per inch. Overall length is 24 1/8"; it is a straight taper from .966" at the receiver end to .650" at the muzzle. If I have to shorten and rethread it to use it in a standard receiver I will, but given that it's only .966 after the threads I'm searching to find a receiver that will handle the relatively small size. I don't know if a M48 mauser action would work, but most of the other standards such as the Rem 700, Win 70, Ruger 77, Mauser 98 all take larger sizes. I do have a fallback position which would be to build a stub barrel for my Thompson Encore and thread the 6mm into the stub, I was just hoping to build a nice custom bolt gun to play around with.

Thanks for the suggestions, and if anyone had any other thoughts on possible actions that would work I appreciate the help.

Also, I'm interested in opinions on the 6mm-06. I don't have any first hand experience but would be interested to hear opinions on the various 6mm options...

Headache · « **Reply #7 on:** December 24, 2003, 04:55:10 AM »

mtnman1,
The thread on the Kimber M/84 is 27/32-20UNS. The barrel is designed around short action cartridges only. There is not enough barrel diameter to safely chamber long action calibers in it.
Headache

JC · « **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2004, 07:10:36 AM »

I was going to do 6/06 at one time. I have spoken with a Sierra Tech about it and he talked me into 6ai. It is a more efficient cartridge. You have to be really careful with your twist rate on those. What twist is your barrel? In my opinion unless u are running a 1/8 twist I would consider the 6 AI. Mine has a 1/10 and I can shoot 75 to 100 grainers with boring accuracy. Ask the West TX jackrabbits that were blown into orbit.

:sniper: